San Francisco, California, USA

American Prize for Design Laureate Fluvio Manzoni, head of Ferrari Styling Centre, together with San Francisco-based Jony Ive and Marc Newson of LoveFrom, have unveiled the new interior and interface designs for the newly launched full-electric sports car—the “Ferrari Luce”—claiming a dramatic new chapter in Ferrari’s rich design history.

“The word ‘Luce’ is more than a name,” states Christian Narkiewicz-Laine, architecture critic and President/CEO of The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, “it is a vision.”

“When Ferrari speaks of Luce, it is not defining a technology, but a philosophy: electrification as a means, not an end—a new era where design, engineering and imagination converge into something that did not exist before.”

“Simple, pure and evocative, Luce becomes a symbol of clarity and inspiration, expressing Ferrari’s approach to innovation: uncompromising vision, transparent design, silent energy that is felt in every fiber, and form shaped by function.”

“It testifies to Ferrari’s determination to go beyond expectations: to imagine the future, and to dare. Because leading means illuminating the path ahead and Luce embodies that mindset,” he continues.

“Ex Apple designer Jony Ive with fellow designer Marc Newson, from LoveFrom had been collaborating with Ferrari’s Manzoni for five years on every dimension of the new car’s design.”

“LoveFrom was given the creative space to define the project’s design direction from the outset to translate a new, cross-disciplinary design language into an authentic Ferrari experience. The team reimaged every detail, from materials and ergonomics to the interface and the overall user experience.”

“Led by Manzoni, the design team focused on perfecting and refining every solution to its purest form—not to reinvent what already works, but to create a new, carefully considered expression of Ferrari, built for a world where interaction is increasingly meaningful,” continues Narkiewicz-Laine.

Last month, the launch of Luce became formalized, hosted by Ferrari and LoveFrom at the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco with an interior space specially redesigned by British architect Norman Foster.

The launch location was consequential since San Francisco has morphed into the hub of the world’s most innovative user experience and interface design.

Through its development phase, Luce’s cabin was conceived as a single, clean volume, with forms simplified and rationalized in the service of driving, creating an environment that feels calm, focused and spacious. Hardware and software were developed together, so the physical architecture and the interface behaviour feel harmonious. Essential elements such as the binnacle, control panel, and central console are self-contained and clearly organised around inputs (controls) and outputs (displays).

This holistic approach is driven by extraordinary care and purposefully shaped by some of the most influential minds in technology design.

Every component has been designed and engineered with the same attention and precision, quietly and purposefully functional.

Everything integrates seamlessly, forming a unified aesthetic and functional whole that preserves and intensifies the emotional thrill of driving a Ferrari.

Production processes were also carefully considered, with sophisticated manufacturing technologies applied to ensure that every material is presented in its most noble form.
This gives both a modern and timeless feel, with materials that are not just luxurious, but genuinely authentic—demonstrating Ferrari’s dedication to quality, innovation, and the enduring value of craftsmanship.

Materials were chosen for their durability and integrity.

The designers embraced aluminum for its suitability for precision machining, with engineered components that celebrate the quality and beauty of the material.

The aluminum is 100%-recycled aluminum alloy meticulously machined from solid billets using advanced 3- or 5-axis CNC technology, then subjected to a state-of-the-art anodisation process.

This treatment creates an ultra-thin, hexagonal cell microstructure on the surface, ensuring exceptional resistance, hardness, and a refined micro-texture.

The result is a finish with a deep, enduring color that remains vibrant over time. Glass is precision-milled Corning® Gorilla® Glass, which is durable, scratch resistant and has high visibility.

Following LoveFrom’s industry-defining expertise, the interface of the Ferrari Luce delivers a strong emphasis on tactility, clarity, and intuitive interaction.

The design team prioritized physical controls that invite touch and engagement, creating a compelling connection between driver and car.

Defying the convention that electric cars must be dominated by large touchscreens, many of the Ferrari Luce controls are mechanical and precisely engineered to be intuitive and satisfying by making every interaction simpler and more direct.

Inspired by classic sports cars and Formula One single seaters, the interface is clearly organized and pared down to essential functions.

The steering wheel of the Ferrari Luce pays homage to Ferrari’s rich heritage while embracing modern innovation.

The design team chose a simplified three-spoke form, reinterpreting the iconic 1950s and 60s wooden three-spoke Nardi wheel.

The aluminum structure of the spokes is intentionally exposed and highlighted, showcasing the material’s strength and finish.

Manufactured in 100% recycled aluminum, the alloy was developed specifically for the Ferrari Luce to ensure mechanical resistance and a superb surface quality for the anodization process.

The steering wheel is made with 19 CNC-machined parts and weighs 400 grams less than a standard Ferrari steering wheel.

Controls on the steering wheel are organized into two analogue control modules, ensuring both functionality and clarity.

This intuitive arrangement echoes the layout of Formula One single seaters.

Every button has been developed to provide the most harmonious combination of mechanical and acoustic feedback based on more than 20 evaluation tests with Ferrari test drivers.

Starting the Ferrari Luce is designed to be theatrical and memorable, echoing the marque’s tradition of creating a thrilling driving experience.

The ritual begins with engaging the key—a unique, tactile object. The key is made in Corning® Gorilla® Glass, the first automotive glass engineered for superior durability and scratch resistance while maintaining excellent optical performance.

The key features a specially developed ‘E Ink’ display that only uses power during colour changes, due to its bi-stable properties.

This implementation of an ‘E Ink’ display marks an automotive first.

Inserting the key into its dock on the central console initiates a carefully choreographed sequence: the key’s color switches from yellow to black as it integrates with the glass surface of the central console.

The control panel and binnacle simultaneously light up, heightening anticipation and signaling the transition from stillness to motion.

The three displays in the Ferrari Luce—driver binnacle, control panel and rear control panel—have been meticulously designed for clarity and purpose.

The team spent significant time considering the organization of inputs (controls) and outputs (displays), making the user experience intuitive and easy to navigate.

An understated, new custom typeface gives the interface and identity a coherent typographic voice, informed by historic Ferrari type and Italian engineering lettering.

The binnacle moves with the steering wheel, optimizing the driver’s view of the instrumentation and supporting driver performance.

An instrument cluster mounted on the steering column is a first for a range Ferrari.

It features two overlapping OLED displays that deliver crisp graphics, vibrant colors, and infinite contrast for an unprecedented viewing experience.

It merges digital and analogue elements in a self-contained unit attached to the steering column, moving in sync with the wheel’s rake and reach for seamless interaction.

The designers’ meticulous attention to detail for the binnacle required the collaboration of Samsung Display’s engineers to create an ultra-light and ultra-thin OLED panel featuring a world first—three large cutouts strategically reveal the information generated by a second display behind the top panel, creating a fascinating visual depth that captures the eye.

Each opening is protected by a clear glass lens, further enhancing the sense of three-dimensionality, and is surrounded by anodized aluminum rings that give the openings the perfect balance, echoing the style of the structural frame of the entire binnacle.

The control panel is mounted on a ball-and-socket joint, allowing the screen to be oriented towards either the driver or the passenger—a unique feature that enhances and shares the Ferrari experience.

Attention to ergonomic details, including a palm rest for operating the panel, further elevates the user experience.

This feature allows users to interact with controls effortlessly and intuitively without looking, demonstrating the team’s commitment to solving complex problems in ways that feel simple and natural.

The multigraph integrated into the central display is a masterpiece of micro-engineering.

This symbol of precision and innovation features a proprietary movement with three independent motors that move the hands autonomously.

Three anodized aluminum hands glide over a minimalist dial protected by Corning® Gorilla® Glass.

An advanced electronic control system gives the multigraph four modes—clock, chronograph, compass, and launch control—with animated transitions reminiscent of the finest chronographs.

The multigraph honors Ferrari’s tradition, and redefines the onboard experience, blending watchmaking artistry and technology into a feature that expresses the brand’s passion and excellence.

Instrument controls are inspired by both historic automotive cues and the purposeful, clear graphics found in aviation, particularly helicopters and aircraft.

These displays are designed to resemble analogue gauges, delivering a sense of familiarity and tactile engagement, yet are fully digital beneath their surface.

The result is a cockpit that feels both modern and classic, with every display communicating information in a clean, graphically legible manner.

The binnacle’s graphics are inspired by the clarity and elegance of historic instrument dials, particularly Veglia and Jaeger instruments from the 1950s and 60s.

Drawing on decades of experience in horological design, the team sought to achieve a watch-like clarity, creating a modern, clean layout that highlights the legibility of the dials. Information is presented in a way that is immediately legible and intuitively understood.

This approach is rooted in the concept of reducing cognitive load for the driver.

By referencing the simplicity of analogue watch dials, where time can be read at a glance, the designers aimed to make the car’s controls and displays equally intuitive.

The graphics are purposefully minimal and clear, allowing drivers to glean essential information quickly and effortlessly while keeping their attention on the road.

The shifter is a technical work of art in Corning® Gorilla® Glass.

Functional, strong, and elegant, it is made using first-of-their kind glass manufacturing processes that have never been incorporated into automotive interior design before.

To achieve the level of precision required by Ferrari, lasers were used to make tiny holes in the glass half the width of a human hair to deposit the ink for the graphics with the perfect level of uniformity.

Gorilla is designed to offer superior surface durability as well as better impact and scratch resistance than conventional glass and is used on the control panel, binnacle and on the surface of the central console.

Ultimately, the design of the Ferrari Luce’s interior is also a synthesis of meticulous craftsmanship, respect for tradition, and thoughtful innovation.

It offers a new choice for Ferrari enthusiasts—one that honors the past while embracing the future, and exemplifies the brand’s enduring commitment to quality, performance, and cultural significance.

“This is Chicago architect Louis Sullivan’s ‘Form Follows Function’ to the max,” summarizes Narkiewicz-Laine, “traditionally a real issue on the racetrack.”

“But also the maxim according to which both Manzoni and Ive design.”